Abstract—Silica-modified polyaniline (SM-PANI) thin films were prepared on glass substrates by oxidative polymerization. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures were grown on top of SM-PANI thin films by chemical bath deposition using zinc sulphate and varying concentrations of ammonium hydroxide. SM-PANI and ZnO nanostructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM images revealed surface morphology of the nanostructures: SM-PANI forming rod-like nanostructures, and ZnO forming sea-urchin-like nanostructures grown on top of SM-PANI. Characterization results also revealed that ammonium hydroxide concentration can modify ZnO nanostructures grown on top of SM-PANI. For 1M concentration, hexagonal rod-like SM-PANI and sea-urchin-like ZnO nanostructures were present; for 3M concentration, flake-like ZnO nanostructures were grown with deformed rod-like SM-PANI. This mechanism can be explained via competition between growth of SM-PANI and ZnO nanostructures, and etching process during the chemical bath deposition of ZnO at different concentrations of ammonium hydroxide.
Index Terms—Ammonium hydroxide, nanostructures, silica-modified polyaniline, zinc oxide.
C. A. L. Rico is with the Materials Science Laboratory, Physics Department, College of Science and Mathematics, Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology, Tibanga, Iligan City, 9200 Philippines (e-mail: rico.adelle@gmail.com).
A. C. Alguno, J. E. Gambe, R. T. Candidato, M. K. G. Odarve, B. R. B. Sambo, F. R.G. Bagsican, and R. M. Vequizo are with the Department of Physics, College of Science and Mathematics, Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology, Tibanga, Iligan City, 9200 Philippines.
[PDF]
Cite:Christine Adelle L. Rico, Arnold C. Alguno, Jess E. Gambe, Rolando T. Candidato, Majvell Kay G. Odarve, Bianca Rae B. Sambo, Filchito Renee G. Bagsican, and Reynaldo M. Vequizo, "Growth Mechanisms of Silica-Modified Polyaniline and Zinc Oxide Nanostructures on Glass Substrates," International Journal of Materials, Mechanics and Manufacturing vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 290-293, 2013.
![[Click]](http://www.ijmmm.org/img/ijmmm_v7n2_inspec%28IET%29_indexscreenshot.jpg){kind=link}